Committee: Environment

Topic: The Sustainable Preservation of Coral Reefs in ASEAN

Country: Philippines
Delegates: Liu Wen
The Philippines believes that the coral reefs are mainly eroding because of poor fishing
techniques. The coral reef are endangered caused by overfishing, and the use of damaging
methods, such as the use of bombs, dynamite and cyanide poisoning. Overfishing is an
inevitable problem because in Philippines, where the country is never far from the ocean,
receiving about 80-90 per cent of its incomes come fisheries. In a report, when assessing the
coral reefs in and around Tubalan Cove of Malita, Davao del Sur in southern Philippines, Dr.
Thomas J. Goreau- president of the Global Coral Reef Alliance, said that Large areas were
found with very high live coral cover, up to nearly 100 percent in some places, but live coral
coverage would have been much higher in other place shad there not been heavy dynamite
fishing damage in many areas in the past. what is more, The World Atlas of Coral Reefs,
compiled by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), reported that 97 percent of
reefs in the Philippines are under threat.
Therefore, to solve the problems, ASEAN in general and Philippines in particular came up
with some courses of solutions. In the past, they used to limit destructive human activity by
setting up marine protected areas (MPAs) in which all the species are living there are
protected through laws. It was considered a global priority for marine conservation and this
approach gained significant success from community-based approaches for MPA
implementation in the Philippines. Nevertheless, there remains some drawbacks such as it
will not be sufficient to meet conservation targets because the approach itself cannot figure
out such large problems.
At present, Philippines government also has some other separate solutions to make sure that
bigger amount of coral reefs as can be protected. Among these government's policy are to
stimulate other economic activities in the coral reef. They even ban fishing and coral
collection and harvesting in some specific areas. This can work because unsustainable fishing
makes the case worse day by day. So if we control the fishing method, it can contribute a lot
to the campaigns against coral reef destruction.
What is more, to improve the problem effectively, the Philippines government as well as all
the organizations and all the people need to give a hand together to bring back the most
populous and diverse aquatic ecosystems in the world. There were many organizations
established to protect these areas such as (SPR), a not-for-profit organization and leader of
coastal resource management by eminent Marine Scientist, Dr Alan White established and his
wife, Evangeline White in 2005. This organization collects data within existing MPAs annuall
that invites volunteers from around the world to collect data within existing MPAs. Over the
last 10 years, more than 60 marine protected areas in the Visayas region of the Philippines
have been established and improved through assistance with management and protection, and
largely due to the monitoring and training activities of this program. Also, for the MPAs, it is
recommended that implementation of community-based MPAs be supplemented by
designation of additional large no-take areas specifically located to address conservation
targets.

References:
Coral waters and the threat, The Philippines [Online]. Available at:
http://www.philippines.hvu.nl/animals4.htm (Accessed: 1 March 2016)
Saving Philippine coral reefs from degradation (2013), Philippine Environews [Online].
Available at: http://environews.ph/water/saving-philippine-coral-reefs-fromdegradation/ (Accessed: 1 March 2016)
Fishing Ban Protects Largest Coral Reef in The Philippines, Apo Reef, Horizon international
solutions site [Online]. Available at: http://www.solutions-site.org/node/281 (Accessed:
1 March 2016)
Philippine sea, Ocean defender [Online]. Available at: http://www.google.com/url?q=http
%3A%2F%2Fwww.greenpeace.org%2Fseasia%2Fph%2FPageFiles
%2F533258%2FOD-2013-PH-SEAS.pdf&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFK49lrDIWT1gNNYbbj1l6s3pCDA (Accessed: 1 March 2016)
Effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas in the Philippines for Biodiversity Conservation,
Conservation Biology [Online]. Available at:
http://www.rareplanet.org/sites/rareplanet.org/files/Effectiveness_of_Marine_Protected
_Areas_in_the_Phillipines_for_Biodiversity_Conservation_1.pdf (Accessed: 1 March
2016)

ASEAN Declaration on The Sustainable Preservation of Coral

Reefs in ASEAN
Philippines, March 2016
WE, the Foreign Ministers of the member countries of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations;
HAVING STUDIED that the coral reefs are mainly eroding
because of poor fishing techniques;
DEEPLY CONCERNED that coral reefs are in danger due to
overfishing, and the use of damaging methods;
BEARING IN MIND that overfishing is an inevitable problem
because in Philippines, where the country is never far from the
ocean, receiving about 80-90 per cent of its incomes come
fisheries;
DESIRING to limit destructive human activity by setting up marine
protected areas (MPAs);
WELCOMING other economic activities in the coral reef;
TAKING NOTE that government ban fishing and coral collection
and harvesting in some specific areas;
VIEWING WITH APPRECIATION that many
established to protect these areas such as (SPR).

organizations

HEREBY
1. EMPHASIZE the serious destruction of coral reefs through social
networks then promote the spirit of responsibility and active citizens;
2. HAVING CONSIDERED limiting explosive fishing methods by
recommending other healthy methods;
3. OBSERVING the efficiency of MPAs and established as many as other
MPAs because it seem to be the most productive approach;
4. REAFFIRMING banning fishing and coral collection and harvesting
in some specific areas and raised peoples awareness by using
advertising strategies, such as: billboards;
5. NOTING WITH DEEP CONCERNED that many organizations can be
established to protect this areas, search for big sponsorship to

maintain the operation, mobilize volunteers to take part in

environmental campaigns;
6. WELCOME all parties concerned to subscribe to this Declaration of
principles.

Committee: Environment
Topic: Damming of the Mekong
Country: Philippines
Delegates: Liu Wen
The Philippines believes that it is of importance to consider problems rose with building dams
in the Mekong river. As far as we know, two thirds of Filipinos live in rural areas and still
depend on agriculture, fisheries and forestry. And more important, once they build dams in the
Mekong River, it will cause lots of negatives effects on the natural environment as well as
peoples lives. For instance, Dams in the Mekong river can bring some benefits such as
providing domestic sources of energy to serve the whole country. Or an amazing inland
navigation, as compared with highway and rail. As the large load carrying capacity of each
barge or shipment creates the ability to handle cargo with large-dimensions and fuel savings.
However, hydroelectric dams can lead to dangerous consequences, including harm for
wildlife, especially coral reefs, their channel instability and sedimentation or water
fluctuations.
Philippines used to raise their voice in some cases in the past to indicate their serious concern
about this problem. Although they tried to protest against building dams on the Mekong river
to maintain a balanced life here, the Philippines still lacks strong governmental will to protect
its environment. So far, there has been 6 hydroelectric dams in Philippines Mekong river and
the people are suffering from the downside of this construction.
These days, Philippines also show their interest in Mekong River. The Philippines joins with
other countries in Southeast Asia to figure out what the best ways to protect with Mekong
river. However, the government has since received flak for intruding on indigenous territory
and eroding the culture of indigenous people for the benefit of the majority. Yet, they are
making great effort to control dam construction on the river. It is a hard work because
building dams is a controversial topic, which can considerably and directly on Filipino.
To make the case positive, many countries stand together and created a coalition called on
prime ministers to cancel the development of Mekong mainstream dams. The Mekong River
Commission (MRC)s Council has been working to cancel the Mekong mainstream dams and
protect the river for present and future generations.

References:
Philippine strategy for sustainable development [Online]. Available at:
http://www.psdn.org.ph/agenda21/pssd.htm (Accessed: 1 March 2016)
Ronda Allan, R. China to Philippines: Lets sit down and talk Headlines [Online]. Available
at: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/07/07/1474134/china-philippines-lets-sitdown-and-talk (Accessed: 1 March 2016)
Save the Mekong Coalition Calls on Prime Ministers to Cancel Mekong Mainstream Dams,
Focus on the global south [Online]. Available at: http://host.focusweb.org/content/savemekong-coalition-calls-prime-ministers-cancel-mekong-mainstream-dams-0
(Accessed: 1 March 2016)

ASEAN Declaration on Damming of the Mekong

Philippines, March 2016
WE, the Foreign Ministers of the member countries of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations;
REALIZING the importance to consider problems risen with building
dams in the Mekong River;
AWARE OF Filipinos who live in rural areas and still depend on
agriculture, fisheries and forestry;
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT that dam building in the Mekong river
will cause lots of negative effects on the natural environment as
well as peoples lives;
HAVING CONSIDERED protesting against building dams on the
Mekong River but lack of strong governmental will;
SEEKING interest from other countries in Southeast Asia to figure
out what the best ways to protect Mekong River;
EXPECTING to create a coalition called on prime ministers to
cancel Mekong mainstream dams;
BELIEVING Mekong river Commission (MRC)s Council will work
out other solutions.
HEREBY
1. KEEPING IN MIND the Mekong River will bring enormous economic
benefits so citizens shouldnt do harm so that they can maintain the
advantages;
2. EMPHASIZE the necessity of stopping dam constructions by
organizing meetings among constructors to let them know that their
benefits can harm a large number of people, organize referendum
before building more dams in the Mekong river;

3. FULLY BELIEVE that Philippines and other countries in Southeast

Asian will work out the best way to protect the Mekong river by
seeking various solutions for dams pollutions, reducing the disasters
caused by dam construction, and other consequences such as building
waste disposal factories to handle damming waste and investing more
in watershed forest to prevent flood;
4. DEEPLY CONVINCED strong governmental will increase allowances
for citizens who have lost their agricultural jobs due to dam
construction, and prevent the protesters from starting a
manifestation;
5. WELCOME all parties concerned to subscribe to this Declaration of
principles.